U-S Senate Approves Legislation Declaring Millions of Acres Wilderness
Friday, January 16, 2009
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved legislation that will provide for the largest increase in wilderness protections in more than 25 years - a total of two million acres covering nine states.
Mike Matz, executive director of the Campaign for America's Wilderness, says consideration of the measure early in the year proves South Dakota residents and the rest of America believe in protecting wilderness.
"It's nice for folks to know these places are out there; that they can go on vacation from South Dakota to California or Idaho or Colorado, get out and hike, hunt, fish and just enjoy time camping with their family."
Opponents blocked the legislation last year over concerns it would block oil and gas development, and ban timber and mineral resources development. Matz says most public land is still open for those businesses, and the strong support for the wilderness is "proof positive" that Americans want the state's and nation's wild lands to remain wild for future generations.
"Whether it's in South Dakota, Western South Dakota on the plains, or in Arizona, people have been working diligently to develop the kind of local support necessary to enable their members of Congress to take this kind of action early in this Congress."
South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson voted in favor, while Sen. John Thune opposed. South Dakota citizens have been working in recent years to designate four areas in Western South Dakota as wilderness to protect them from off-road vehicle abuse, oil drilling, mining and road building.
get more stories like this via email
United Nations experts are raising concerns about chemical giants DuPont and Chemours, saying they've violated human rights in North Carolina…
Social Issues
The long-delayed Farm Bill could benefit Virginia farmers by renewing funding for climate-smart investments, but it's been held up for months in …
Environment
Conservation groups say the Hawaiian Islands are on the leading edge of the fight to preserve endangered birds, since climate change and habitat loss …
Environment
April has been "Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month," but the pests don't know that. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's the …
Health and Wellness
The 2024 Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium Public Conference kicks off Saturday, where industry experts and researchers will share the latest scientific …
Environment
Environmental groups say more should be done to protect people's health from what they call toxic, radioactive sludge. A court granted a temporary …